Centrifugal operating device



Aug' 14, 1951 c. H. DEDERICK 2,563,925

CENTRIFUGAL OPERATING DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 1947 Patented ug. '14, '1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CENTRIFUGAL OPERATING DEVICE Clinton H. Dederick, Brentwood, Mo., assigner to The Emerson Electric Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application February 14, 1947, Serial No. 728,703

17 Claims. l

The present invention relates to a centrifugal operating device. More particularly, it relates to a centrifugal operating device usuable with switch means and particularly adapted to be an attachment for an electric motor for use in opening a circuit to starting windings when the motor attains a predetermined speed.

This centrifugal operating mechanism is of the type which has a snap action, and, in particular, has weights that at point of rest have a maximum resistance to movement, the resistance decreasing as the weights move away from their rest position. As a result, when once they start to move out, the weights will continue to move out rapidly and smoothly to establish a clean break of the switch contacts.

It is a primary object of the invention toprovide an actuator of the foregoing type having improved operating characteristics.

It is an object of this invention to provide an actuator of the foregoing type employing a minimum number of parts. A further object is to provide an actuator giving very smooth consistent action, with minimized wear and minimized effects of wear on operation. A further object is to provide a switch that is stable in both its rest and its operated positions, so as to reduce the effects of wear occasioned by unbalance of parts and possible lost motions in rest and operating positions.

, A further object of the invention is to provide an actuator of this kind with a reduced amount of friction between the moving parts, and consequently reduced wear. Another object is to provide an actuator of this kind that is easy to assemble, inexpensive to make, and compact in form. Other objects will appear from the description to follow.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the actuating mechanism, applied to a motor and switch, with the rotor, stator and casing of the motor in section, the actuator |being in its rest position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the actuator being partly broken away, and in actuated position;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, showing a view of the actuator from the left in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing the actuator from the right in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the sliding collar or sleeve.. taken from its right side in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the collar;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the mechanism separated from the motor;

Fig. 8 is a view of one of the centrifugal actuating weiglit members in blank form; and

Fig. 9 is a View of the supporting bracket in blank form.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a motor, generally indicated at I2, having a rotor I3, a shaft I4 and a cover. generally indicated at I E. The cover is shown as having a bearing for support of the shaft and as having a switch vIt thereon. This switch is not in detail a part of this invention, but typifies a switch that may be actuated by the actuating mechanism of the invention. It includes a base plate Il attached to the cover I5, to which a forked lever I3 is pivoted at I9. One end of this lever lits under a bracket 20 attached to the plate I1, and the two have cooperable switch contacts 2l. A light spring 23 normally tends to break the contacts. The other end of this switch lever I8 has a pair of arms, one of which is shown at 24, that straddle the shaft.

There is a collar or sleeve 25 mounted for sliding movement along the shaft I4. It has a flange 26, against the face of which rest the two arms 24 of the switch lever i8. It will be understood that this sleeve 25 rotates with the shaft I4 while the switch remains immovable, so that the arms wipe over the left-hand surface of the flange 26. If desired, pads may be applied to the ends of the fork arms 24.

The sleeve has to the right of its flange two diametrically opposed bosses 28. Each boss has opposed pivot notches 39 indented on its opposite sides. The sleeve likewise may have ribs 3l around its inner periphery for bearing upon the shaft. Preferably, the sleeve 25 is formed of a single piece of molded plastic material. It will be seen that it is capable of being formed as such, with the mold parted on a vertical diameter through Fig. 5.

There is a base bracket 35. This bracket is shown in blank in Fig. 9. In blank, it has at its center an opening 36, which is finally stamped to form a flange 3'.' for engagement over the shaft I4. It will be understood that other means for fastening the bracket to the shaft may be used, but this arrangement is preferable. A small opening 36, shown in the blank of Fig. 9, is enlarged for this purpose.

The bracket 35 has a middle portion 38 that is disposed transversely to the shaft I4. Opposite ends 39 of this middle portion are bent laterally so as to extend along the shaft toward the sleeve 25. y The extreme parts til of the ends of such ends 39 are turned out preferably to be perpendicular to the shaft, and to constitute guides for weight members, as will ap-pear. Each of these ends Se is provided with a slot d2 that extends outwardly into the guides 36. These slots 32 also provide outstanding projections Il@ on their inner edges. These projections are not turned up, but instead extend outwardly in the plane of the base part to constitute abutment means, as will appear.

The middle portion 38 of the bracket 35 is notched along its sides to provide two lugs l5 adjacent the base of each of the extensions 3s. As will appear, the facing edges of these lugs le constitute stop elements.

There are two centrifugal weight members 5t attached to the base 35. These members are identical, and one is shown in blank in Fig. 8.

Each weight member includes a middle portion 53 that, as shown, is adapted to extend across from one side to the other of the shaft ill. rlhis middle portion comprises the principal centrifugal component. It preferably lies parallel to the axis. On opposite sides of the middle portion 53, two arms 54 extend. These are bent at` angles,l here right angles, to the middle portion, so that the two weight members can be disposed astride the shaft it from opposite sides thereof.. The ends of the arms lill extend laterally so as to lie along the shaft, as shown at 55. The tips of the ends 55 are shaped to form pivot elements or portions 56 that fit rookably into the notches Eil on the lugs 28 of the sleeve. The arms 54, at approximately the junction of the extensions 55, are provided with shoulders 58, for a purpose to appear.

The weight members and the guides fle have slot engagements that act in a manner to be described. In,l the preferred form, the slotsrare in the weight members and the guides comprise tongues engageable therein. To this end, the middle section 53 has an elongated slot 60. It also has notched lateral projections tl that, in the preferred form, project at right angles to the extensions 55, to receive the ends of coil springs, as will appear.

The two centrifugal weight members 5t are fitted onto the base bracket 35 with the slots te engaging over the two projections lill on the bracket, and Vwith the pivot elements 5t engaged ink the notches 3.5. Ther centrifugal arms are shaped so that, when they are thus engaged, the edges of the middle portions 53 most remote from the pivot portion 56 will strike the lugs lill on the base bracket. When the weight members are-thus disposed, a pair of coil springs t5 are hooked at their opposite ends over the hooksl El of opposite weight members. These springs urge the weight members inwardly into the positions indicated. The weight members may be prevented from slipping off the ends of the bracket by spring clips 66, that may be formed of overlapped spring metal. These are slipped over the center portions of the weight members adjacent to the slots 6E) and pass through the slots 42, which extend far enough into the extreme ends el() for the purpose. These clips 66 are frequently unnecessary, as the springs E5 hold the mechanism assembled. The clips. will, however, act under any emergency condition to prevent the weight members from flying olf the guides 40.

Operation In the operation ofthe mechanism, when the rotor rotates, it carries the actuating mechanism with it, producing centrifugal force tending to swing the weight members outwardly.

In the rest position of the shaft ld and the actuator, shown in Fig. 1, the two weights are solidly supported, by the action of the springs lie, which urge them toward the shaft to maintain the pivots 5E engaged in the notches 3o, and to engage the opposite ends of the weight members against the abutments f projecting radially from the base plate 35.

As the shaft turns, it applies torque to the base member 35. This member 35 engages the slots of the weight members si), at the guide ends 4B, to cause the members 5t to rotate with the shaft. In the starting action, the engagement of the weights with the abutments BIB along edges transverse to the shaft may aid in the torque transmission. Inertial forces of the weights are less acute because the torque is applied at a great distance from the shaft. In the form illustrated, the torque of the base 35 is transmitted to the weight members El! at substantially the maximum outer part of the weights;

in their rest position.

Rotation of the weight members develops centrifugai forces, tending to move them radially from the shaft. The centrifugal forces act through the centers of gravity of the weights, and such centers are to the right', in the drawings, of the guides d, and somewhat inward toward the shaft therefrom. Such centers are therefore to the right of the pivots 5B;

The weights thereby are urged to swing out, with their pivots t held in place by the springs, that always act counter to the centrifugal` forces. Thus, in their outer positions, the weights engage, and are stabilized by the pivotalA engagement at between the pivots 56: and` the notches; Sii. This causes the weights to move arcuately relatively to the pivots 56.

However, the weights are guided by the guides l so that, at the points of engagement over these guides, the weights cannot move axially of the shaft. As they are swinging arcuately about the pivots 5t to thev left ofthe guides 4U, they slide radially outward on the guides 4] as they. rock upon them. The o utwardf component vof movement of the weights appears also in the spring projectionsA 6|. This causes thespring projections Si of the two, weights to separate, stretching the springs 6.5,'.

The limiting by the guides MI against axial movement of the weight members thereat, coupled with the. confinement of,` the. movements of the weight members to arcuate movements relatively to the pivot points 5E, causes. outward swinging of the weight members to move' the pivots 56 axially to the right. Inv this operation, the weight members ac t as levers of the first class, fulcrumed' at. the, guides 40, with the centrifugal force centered'v to the right of the guides l5 and the work,` through the pivots 55. to the left thereof. The outward movement of the weight members stops when the shoulders 58 engagertheedges t5 of the base 3 5.

The. foregoing movements of the weight members are regulated by the forces.. of 'rotation and of the springs. At rest position, the springs, are a maximum distance to the right of` the pivots 55, and the centrifugalV forces are at. a. minimum, as the weight members are nearest to the axis. The centrifugal forces, being generated by rotation, increase as the shaft accelerates. The springs are designed to prevent any movement of the weights until a predetermined speed is reached, at which the centrifugal force has a moment exceeding that of the springs.

At such speed, the weights start to swing out, pivoting about their pivots 56, rocking and sliding out on the guides 40, and displacing the sleeve to the right. Each increment of such movement of the weight members moves the spring projections out slightly stretching the springs 65, but it also draws the pivots 56 toward the line of force of the springs to reduce the lever arm thereof. The result is a reduction of the moment of the spring forces for each increment of outward movement of the weights, so that, once the outward movement has begun, it may continue with no increase in centrifugal force.

However, centrifugal force also increases with each increment of outward movement of the weight members, even apart from the increase resulting from the normally continued acceleration of the rotor. As the weight members move out, they become further displaced from the shaft, so that their centrifugal forces become greater. These weights move, in this action, to displace their centers of gravity from positions to the right and radially from the guides 40, outwardly. The weight members are thus like bell cranks, and their forces acting at their centers of gravity have lever arms that do not lose length to any substantial degree. In fact, they initially preferably gain in lever arm, as the centers of gravity approach positions directly outward in parallellism to the axis. All such outward movements are preferably within the range of small angles with such parallellism, wherein the actual lever arms, being cosine functions, are near unity.

All of these factors of decreasing spring moments, increasing centrifugal forces, and unchanged or increasing centrifugal force moments, result in a rapid outswinging of the weight members once movement has commenced. Consequently, the switch contacts are opened sharply with a snap action.

In other words, it takes less speed to hold the weight members out than to displace them from their initial positions of rest. As a result, the shaft will, on deceleration, slow down to a speed below the critical speed of actuation before the weights start inward toward the shaft. Once they start to return, the inward forces accumulate rapidly, and they move in quickly, producing a snap action in closing the switch.

In the outward swinging of the weights, wherein there is a rocking about, and sliding on, the guides 40, the wear has been minimized by the present arrangement. Comparison of Figs. 1 and 2 shows that the pivots 56 move from positions -leftward of a radius through the guides 40, to positions approximately radially inward from the guides. The sliding movement of the weight members on the guides may be visualized by a series of right triangles in Figs. 1 and 2 drawn by a base line through a pivot 56 parallel to the axis, an altitude extending from the guide 40 vertically to the base, and a hypotenuse from the pivot 56 to the point of engagement of the guide 4G and weight member at its slot 60. As the weight member is rigid, the hypotenuse is of constant length. As the sleeve 25 moves axially, the base shortens but does not change position. The altitude must therefore change and its change represents the amount of sliding of the weight member on the guide. 1t is evident that with the hypotenuse h. constant,

6 the altitude a always equals h sin where a is the angle between the hypotenuse and the base. The amount of sliding for a given angular rocking of the weight members about the guides is thus equal to ,71. (sin ern-sin a), wherein a1 is the angle when the sleeve 25 is rightwards.

Under these circumstances, and by applying typical values to a, it may be seen that the amount of sliding per degree change in a constantly decreases as the sleeve moves to the right.

The effect of this is that at the start, when centrifugal force is at a minimum, the sliding is greatest. As the weights swing out, and the force transmitted becomes greater, the sliding decreases. And, with the final position approximately one wherein a equals the sliding is least. Also, by approaching or using the 90 condition, the mechanism takes advantage of the minimum change in sines of large angles.

At the start from rest position, the arms 24 apply force from the spring 23 to urge the sleeve 25 rightwardly. This tends to displace the sleeveand weights to cause the weights to engage thel left sides of the guides 40. During the initial movements, wherein the weight members 50 swing out, there may be little or no actual fulcrum engagement with the guides 40, the arms 24 urging the sleeve 25 rightward. When the spring force through the switch arms 24 is relieved, subsequent outswinging of the weightswill cause rocking and sliding engagements of the right edges of the slots 60 (Fig. 1) on theguides; but the sliding will be minimized for rea-` sons stated.

This actuator may be easily made and quicklyl assembled. It includes very few parts, and most of them may be made from dies or molds. The sleeve 25 may be formed by multicavity molds, as it requires no inserts. The weight members and bracket are stampings. The spring clips 66; are easily formed.

In assembly, the weights are mounted onto the bracket and sleeve by slipping their slots 60l over the guides 4E, bringingthe pivots 56 into the notches 3l), and their flat portions against the stops 44. They may be held thus readily, and the two springs G5 looped over the ends 6|. Then the clips 66 are slipped over the weight members, through the slots i2 of the guides, to prevent the weight members from swinging olf the bracket under even extraordinary conditions. rI'he actuator is then a unit.

rThe foregoing assembly requires no pivot pins of a permanent nature, and does not require the union of the Weight members to the bracket prior to attachment of the latter to the shaft. The pivots 5G and the notches are designed to afford a determi-sable and positive shift of the sleeve 25 in both directions. 'These pivots 56 also have a true pivotal action, with no 'sifstantial sliding movement that would cause excessive Wear, and eliminating the need for peculiar construction to avoid friction. The arms of the weight members roel; in the notches, which may be made of sufficient width to accommodate small variations. in spacing, thus eliminating the need for accuracy required where the arms rock; upon themselves. The weights, by being astride the shaft, and having their principal weight masses extending along the shaft, require less radial space than where the weights extend outwardly with their principal mass edge- Wise of the shai't.

Thus the invention Vattains its objectives Vof acaoat better operation, minimum cost, and maximum simplicity.

What isclaimedis.:

L. A centrifugal actuator for use onta rotary shaft, comprising a sleeve for sliding along the shaft, a weight. member having a weight por-- tion disposable alongside, the shaft and an arm extending along the shaftfromthe weight portion` to the sleeve, pivot means connecting the arm; tothe sleeve whereby the weight portion may swing outwardly about thepivotmeans under centrifugal-force, andrdescribe an arc reducingthe distance, measured along the shaft, betweenthewei'ght portion and the pivot means, spring. means connected directlyto the weight member: and applyingY a. centripetal force ina directionv transversely of the shaft-to urge the weight portion toward the shaft, the spring means being connected with the weight member, so that its forceis'appliedincreasingly closer to the, pivot means asA the weight portion swings outlunder centrifugal'forcaand relatively fixed base, means fixed against` movement along the shaft, and having a xedportion-engaged with the weightmember to limit axial displacement ofthe weight portion, in its outwardrswinging, whereby thepivotends ofthe arm will be moved axially to., displace the. sleeve as the weight portionlswings outand .a stopfon said fixed means engageable by saidlweight member to limit its pivotal. movement toward the shaft, said stop and weight members. having portions that interengage when the lweight member is toward the shaft, which interengageable portions are shaped. to resist rotaryfmovements between the twomembers.

2;v Aecentrifugal actuator forfuse on a rotary shaft;comprisingr asleeve for sliding along the shaft,.aweight memberhaving a weight portion disposablealongside the shaft, and arms extending along the shaft fromuthefvweight portion to the sleeve, pivot means connecting the arms to the sleeve .whereby the weight portion may swing outwardly about the pivot means under centrifugal force, and describe an arc reducing the distance, measured along the shaft, between the Aweight portion and the pivot means, spring, means vconnected tothe weight member and applying a centripetalforce in a direction transversely ofthe shaft to urgethe weight portion toward the shaft, theospr-ing means being connected with the weight member, so that its force is applied increasingly` closer to the pivot means as the weight portion swings out under centrifugal force, and relatively fixed base means fixed against movement along the shaft, and having a fixed portion engaged withthe weight member between the center of gravity of said member and vsaid pivot means to limit axial displacement of the weight portion, inl its outward swinging, whereby the pivot ends of the arm will be moved axiallyl to .displace the Vsleeve asthe weight 'portion 'swings "out,Y and stop means bei tween the xed means and the weight member" to'limit outward swinging Vof the weight member to a point wherein the spring vmeans is prevented from movingfacrossV the axis of the pivot means.'

3. A centrifugal actuatorlfor use ori-arotaryv shaft, comprisinga sleeve slidably` mountable on .the shaft, a baseV member iixable-onrthe shaft; a .pairof weight membersand spring means; the weight members comprisingweight portions extending transversely. of the Ysleeve axisioridispositiomonopposltesides of thefshaft,

each'weight Vmember having a pair of rigid arms extending along opposite sides of the shaft to the sleeve, eacharm having pivotal engagement with thev sleeve, said pivot points being in pairs on oppositevsides o f the sleeve and spaced along the shaft from the centers of gravity of the weight members, whereby the weight membersy may centrifugally swingrout in arcs about ,saidpivotI points, onopposite sides of the shaft, the spring means being connected between .the weightmembers andvextending across the shaft at one sidelof the pivot means, said spring means; yieldingly holding the weight members toward eachother and'toward the shaft, and the spring` meansbeing movedA toward the pivot pointsV as the weights swing outV centrifugally, said base member having portions projecting from itsjop'- posite ends toward the weight membersand :engageable by the Weight members to limit their inward'movement under influence o'f the springl means, and the basenmember having fixed por" tions engaged with the weight members to' limit axial movements of the weight members.

4; A centrifugal actuator for use on a rotary shaft, comprising a `sleeve Vslidably mountable` on theA shaft, a base member fixable on'the shaft, a pair of weight members, and spring meansthe weight members comprising Vweight portionsex-V tending transverselyofthe sleeve axis for disposi; tion on opposite sides of theshaft, each weight member having a pair of rigid arms extending along opposite sides of the shaft to the sleeve, each arinhaving pivotal engagementwith the sleeve, saidpivot'pointsbeing in pairs on opposite sides ofY the'sleeve and spaced along the shaft from the centers of gravityof the weight members, whereby the Weight members maycentrifugally swingoutfin arcs-about said pivot points, on oppositevsides ofthe shaft, the-springmeans beingl connected 'between the weight members Vand extending .across the shaft at one side of the pivot means, said spring means yieldingly holding the weight members .toward `each other and toward the shaft, and the spring meansbeing -moved to- Wardthe pivot points as the weights swing out centrifugally, saidl base -member having -portions p projecting from its opposite ends toward the weight members and engageable by the weightl memberstowlimit their'inward movement under influence-of the-spring means, said base member havingfixedv projections, one for each weight member, extendingY outwardly from the axis o'ff the shaft,` and afslot-engagementv between each projection and its weight member betweenrthe centers of gravity of said members andsaid piv' otal engagement, to limit the movement of the outer :part of the weight member in a direction axially ofthe sleeve, whereby such outwardmovement of the weight members will axially displace thessleeve. y Y Y K A Y l 5. A centrifugal actuator for use cna rotary shaft, hcomprising a sleeveslidably mountable on the shaft, a-,base member flxable o n theshaft, 4a pair'of weight'fmembers, and springfmeans, the weight members comprising weight portions A'cxtending tran'sversely of the sleeve axis for disposition on opposite sides of the shaft, each weightmember having a pair of rigidarms extending along Opposite sidesrof theffshaft to the sleeve, each-arm havingfpivotal engagement with thes1eeve,-said pivot points being in pairs on opposite sides --of thesl'eeve and spaced alongfthe shaft-from Vthe centers-of gravity of the weight m'emberafwhereby the'weight members mayfcene trifu'gal'ly swingout in arcsV about said 'pivot-points;

on opposite sides of the shaft, the spring means being connected between the weight members and extending across the shaft at one side of the pivot means, said spring means yieldingly holding the weight members toward each other and toward the shaft, and the spring means being moved toward the pivot points as the weights swing out centrifugally, the base member having an opening to receive and engage the shaft, end portions extending oppositely from the opening to- -ward the weight members, abutment elements on the end portions for engagement by the weight members to limit swinging thereof toward the axis, projections from the opposite ends of the base and xed thereto, extending along the shaft toward the pivot points, each projection having an end turned outwardly from the axis and spaced outwardly from the axis relatively to the pivot points, the weight members having slots loosely engageable over the ends of the projections, whereby the weight members may rock on the projections but be thereat limited in movement along the axis.

6. A centrifugal actuator for use on a rotary shaft, comprising a sleeve slidably mountable on the shaft, a base member xable on the shaft, a pair of weight members, and spring means, the weight members comprising weight portions extending transversely of the sleeve axis for disposition on opposite sides of the shaft, each weight member having a pair of rigid arms extending along opposite sides of the shaft to the sleeve, each arm having pivotal engagement with the sleeve, said pivot points being in pairs on oppcn site sides of the sleeve and spaced along the shaft from the centers of gravity of the weight members, whereby the weight members may centrifugally swing out in arcs about said pivot points, on opposite sides of the shaft, the spring means being attached to the weight members and extending across the shaft at one side of the pivot means, said spring means yieldingly holding the weight members toward the shaft, and the spring means being moved toward the pivot points as the weights swing out centrifugally, the base member having an opening to receive and engage the shaft end portions extending oppositely from the opening toward the weight members, abutment elements on the end portions vfor engagement by the weight members to limit swinging thereof toward the axis, projections from the opposite ends of the base and fixed thereto, extending along the shaft toward the pivot points, each projection having an end turned outwardly from the axis and spaced outwardly from the axis relatively to the pivot points, the weight members having slots loosely engageable over the ends of the projections, whereby the weight members may rock on the projections but be thereat limited in movement along the axis, and stops on the sides of the base member in the pivotal paths of the arms on the weight members, said stops being engageable by the arms to limit outward swinging of the weight members.

7. A centrifugal actuator, comprising a relatively iixed base adapted to be rotated about an axis, a weight member having means between its ends providing a fulcrum, bearing means on a fixed part of the `base engaged by the fulcrum, the center of gravity of the weight member being in its first end to one side of the fulcrum means, and the second end of the weight member extending toward the axis, an operated device engaged by the second end of the weight member, to be moved along the axis by rocking of the weight member, the center of gravity of the weight member being displaced to one side of the fulcrum means, and not substantially further from the axis than said fulcrum means, whereby as the weight member swings about said fulcrum means under centrifugal force the lever arm of the weight member will not substantially decrease, tension means attached at one end to the weight member and means holding the other end of the spring means to cause it to apply a yieldable force directly to the Weight member in opposition to centrifugal force.

8. A weight member for a centrifugal actuator comprising a sheet-like element having a middle portion, arms extending oppositely from said middle portion, outwardly therefrom, said arms having ends extending laterally from the main portions of the arms, pivot elements formed on the ends, spring receiving ears extending outwardly from the opposite ends of the middle portion, said ears being spaced from the arms, said weight member having its aforesaid arms exu tending at angles to the middle portion whereby the member may straddle an axis of rotation with the pivot elements spaced along the axis from the center of gravity of the member, and having the ears extending transversely of the axis of rotation.

9. A weight member for a centrifugal actuator comprising a sheet-like element having a middle portion, arms extending oppositely from said middle portion, outwardly therefrom, said arms having ends extending laterally from the main portions of the arms, pivot elements formed on the ends, spring receiving ears extending out-v wardly from the opposite ends of the middle portion, said ears being spaced from the arms, said weight member having its aforesaid arms extending at angles to the middle portion whereby the member may straddle an axis of rotation with the pivot elements spaced along the axis from the center of gravity of the member, and having the ears extending outwardly transversely of the axis of rotation, and a slot in the middle portion of the member.

10. A nxable member for a centrifugal actuator, comprising a unitary sheet-like piece of material having a middle portion with an opening to fit over a rotatable shaft, end portions projecting oppositely from the middle portion, said end portions extending at angles to the middle portion with their outer parts extending generally parallel to the middle portion, openings in each end portion providing a strip across each outer part, and abutment elements projecting from the opposite ends of the middle portion.

11. A centrifugal actuator comprising a sleeve for slidable movement along a shaft, a pair of identical weight members, a base member, and a pair of springs, the base member having a middle portion with an opening to t onto a shaft, end portions projecting oppositely from the middle portions, and turned laterally therefrom to extend along the shaft, with their outer extremes extending outwardly with respect to the shaft, said end portions having openings to provide slots at said outer extremes, and to provide abutment means adjacent the junctions of the end portions and the middle portion, said weight members each being sheet-like, with a middle part overlying the end portions of the base across the shaft, each with one edge engageable with the abutment means on the base, and each of said middle parts having a slot to nt over the outer extreme of one end portion of the base to rock 1i freely thereon, clip means engageable over the said middle part to t into the slot of the end portion to retain the weight member thereon, said weight members each having armsextending outwardly from the opposite sides o`f`---the middle part thereof, and bent toward the shaft i"\ lie alongside the same, pivot forming ends on the arms, spaced along the shaft from the center of gravity of the weight members whereby the weight members may centrifugally pivot outwardly from the shaft on said ends, said ends being engageable with the sleeve, and spring retaining means on the middle portions of the weight members, at Vopposite .sides thereof, spaced toward the centers of gravity of the weight members from the pivot ends, said springs being attached between retaining means of the two weight members on opposite sides thereof.

12. In a centrifugal actuator for use on a shaft rotatable about an axis, a relatively fixed base adapted to be attached to the shaft, an axially movable member, mountable for movement along the axis, a weight member having pivot portions on opposite sides of the axially movable member, and a middle portion between them and extending across one side of the axis, spring means yieldingly urging the weight member rockably about its pivot portions, toward the axis, the spring means acting along the axis from the pivot portions, fixed means on the base and engaged with the weight member limiting axial movements of the weight member, abutment means stopping inward movement of the weight member under force of the spring means, and cooperating pivotall connections between the pivot portions and the axially movable member, comprising supports to transmit force of the springs from the weight member to the axially movable member, and comprising means to transmit axial movement of the pivot portions of the weight member to the axially movable member, when the weight member pivots by centrifugal force.

13. In a centrifugal actuator, a sleeve for mounting on a shaft, said sleeve being axiallyl movable, a weight member having a rocking connection with the sleeve and extending outwardly from the axis and lengthwise of the axis from the rocking connection, spring means connected with the weight member at a point lengthwise of the axis from the rocking connection, and urging the weight member, about said connection toward the axis, guide means to limit axial movement of the weight member as it swings about the rocking connection, said guide means being spaced lengthwise of the axis from the rocking connection when the weight member is nearest the axis, and comprising a fulcrum for the weight member having a sliding connection with the weight member, the rocking connection being thereby caused to move along the axis toward the position of the guide means, as the weight member swings outwardly, means limiting the outward movement of the weight member to a point wherein the rocking connection is substantially in a plane transverse to the axis that includes the guide means.

14. A weight member blank comprising a unitary piece of fiat sheet-like material having a middle portion with opposite sides, spring receiving elements extending oppositely from the sides of the middle portion adjacent one end of said middle portion, and pivot arms extending from opposite sides of the middle portion adjacent the other end thereof, Said arms extending outwardly Vfrom the middle portion beyond the endsr of. the.

spring receiving elements, and then extending across the ends of the spring receiving elements, and terminating in ends for pivots.

l5. In a centrifugal actuator, adapted for use on a rotating shaft; a relatively xed base for attachment to the shaft, a sleeve for slidable noyement along the shaft toward and from the base member, the base member having a portion outwardlyrspaced from the sleeve in a radial direction and extending in an axial direction from the base member othe side thereof toward the sleeve, whereby it may overlie the same; a weight member having a weight portion between the base member and the end of its projection, having means providing a rocking and sliding engagement with the said end of the projection, and having side arms extending to opposite sides of the sleeve and pivotally engaged therewith, and spring means urging the weight member toward the axis of the shaft.

16. In a centrifugal actuator, adapted for use on a rotating shaft; a relatively fixed base for attachment to the shaft, a sleeve for slidable movement along the shaft toward and from the base member, the base member having a portion outwardly spaced from the sleevein a radial direction and extending in an axial direction from the base member on the side thereof toward the sleeve, whereby it may overlie the same; a weight member having a weight portion between the base member and the end of its projection, having means providing a rocking and sliding engagement with the said end of the projection, and having side arms extending to opposite sides of the sleeve and pivotally engaged therewith, and spring means urging the weight member toward the axis of the shaft, the said arms extending to a point axially spaced from the base member beyond the axial location of the rocking and sliding engagement between the weight member and the projection. v

l17. In a centrifugal actuator, adapted for use on a rotating shaft; a relatively fixed base for attachment to the shaft, a sleeve for slidable movement along the shaft toward and from the base member, the base member having a portion outwardly spaced from the sleeve in a radial direction and extending in an axial direction from the base member on the side thereof toward the sleeve, whereby it may overlie the same; a weight member having a weight portion between the base member and the end of its projection, having means providing a rocking and sliding engagement with the said end of the projection, and having side arms extending to opposite sides of the sleeve and pivotally engaged therewith, and spring means urging the weight member toward the axis of the shaft, the rocking and sliding engagement means comprising a slot and tongueY arrangement between the weight member and the projection.

CLINTON H. DEDERICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

